When Can You Drive Someone Else’s Car?

It is quite possible that you have driven someone else’s car but do you know what the legal requirement is in that respect relating to being insured to drive the vehicle? Let us explain…

Don’t think that just because a friend or relative agrees that you can drive their vehicle that you are legally allowed to do so purely because you have their permission. There are certain requirements as far as being insured to drive the vehicle.

For instance, you can drive another person’s car if you are named as an additional driver on their motor insurance policy. In which case, you would be covered for the same risks as the main policyholder and that depends upon whether he or she has fully comprehensive, third party or third party fire and theft.

If the main policyholder has a policy that covers any person over the age of say 25 to drive the vehicle subject to certain other conditions then you can drive that vehicle.

If you have your own fully comprehensive motor insurance policy then you may be insured to drive another person’s car but, if you are, your policy would only cover you for third party cover. So, if you were involved in a road traffic accident whilst driving the other car then you would only be covered for damage/injury/death to third parties i.e. another vehicle, building or person. A lot of motorists think that they are covered for damage to the vehicle they are driving under their own policy but this is not always the case. Check with your insurer to see if you are covered in such a situation.

So, it is not sufficient to get behind the wheel of a friend’s car and drive it away just because he or she has agreed that you can do so. You must make sure that you are insured to drive the vehicle and that you and the owner of the vehicle are happy with the level of cover in place.